Latch



Malgch 2, 1937. H, J MACK|N 2,072,269

LATCH Filed Jan. io, 1956 2 sheetss'n-eet 1 March 2, 1937. H, MACKlN 2,072,269

LATCH Filed Jan. l0, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @gmelm Patented 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to a latch or lock for engaging a c'ord, cable or similar member and for securing, latching or locking it into position;

It has for one object to provide a device which will readily prevent undesired reversing movement of a cable or cord, which may be moved easily into locking or unlocking position.

Another object is toy provide such a device which is operated by movement oi' the cord itself 1:0 `in the hands of an operator. Another object is to provide in a device of the general type suggested a positive means for moving the locking members toward the lockinglposition in response to movement oi the cord in the hand ofl an l5 operator.

The invention is illustrated herewith as applied to a Venetian blind and as applied to a blind of another sort. It may be used in almost any position and in connection with almost any cord, cable or similar member, whether the latter is used to control a blind or to control or sup- .port any other device.

The invention is 'illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a window with the latch of the present invention f associatedv with an-upper support for a blind;

Figure 2 is a top plan view o! the upper support or rail ofthe blind shown in Figure 1 on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is an end view of the member shown in Figure 2 with 'the cords in section;

Figure 4 is a transverse generally vertical sectional detail taken at line 4`4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view generally similar to Figure 4, lshowing the parts in a diiierent position of' adjustment;

Figure 6 is atransverse vertical sectional detail, taken at line 6-6 vof Figure 5; u

Figure 'l is a transverse vertical sectional detail taken at line I-1 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional detail taken at line 8-8 of Figure 4; f Figure 9 is a view showing the lock in posi,-

tion on a support from which it extends downwardly and is arranged to engage a cable or cord which mayI be used to raise and support vany desired article;

Figure l() is a topplan view withparts broken away and parts in section, showing a modified form of the device secured to a generally vertical surface such as a wall; i

55 Figure 11 is a top plan view generally similar (ci. 15e-17) Y l to Figure 1o, snowing a 'forni or the device suit-I able for use with a single cord; Y

Figure 12 is 'an end view ofthe device shown in Figure 10. i

Like partys' are designated by like characters 6 throughout the specication and drawings.

As shown in Figure 1, the lock is applied to a support for a blind which is positioned in an opening such as a window or doorway, theblind being secured to a portion of the window or door 10\ i'rame above it. Obviously the lock may be associated with a mechanism other-than a blind and the blind might be suppol'eddii'ferently.

I indicatesva wall; 2 are the vertical frame members of the window and 3 is a horizontal 15 trame member to which a rail" l is secured by. screws 5 or otherwise. 'I'he "rail" is preferably channeled in its upper surface asat 6to provide a passage or enclosure for the oord or cords. The rail is cut away adjacent one and and preier- 20 ably in register with the channeled portion 6 v as at 1. 'I'his cut away portion or cavity 1 receives the lock and for convenience of operation the lock may be tilted to the side. To permit this the cutaway portion 1 is tilted tothe side as, -25 shown particularly in Figures 3, 6, 7 and 8. The rail is also provided with one or 4more perforations or4 cut away portions 8 within or adjacent each of which a grooved pulley 9 is positioned von, a suitable bearing member III, the pulleys be- 3u 4ing out of alignment with each other so that each can accommodate a different cord or a dierent portion o! the same cord. Thus a cord member Il passes over the right hand pulley 9 as shown in Figure 1, and a cord portion I2 passes over 35 the left hand pulley 9 asfshown in Figure 1. These cord portions may be joined-together at their ends to form a loop i3 as shown in Figure 1, or they may actually be separate from each other. 40 'I'he lock or latch comprises a housing which l preferably has generally parallel side walls I4 and I5, joined by a top Iii.4 It the'device is to be associated in a blind support, as shown in Fig?.

ures 1 to 8, inclusive', in which it is tilted slightly 45` to the'side,`the wall I4 may be somewhat longer than the wall I5. This is not an essential feature of the invention but isa mere matter of convenience,'depending up'on the association Yin which the lock is to be used. 50

Where the lock is to be associated with a blind support or with some other supporting member, 1 it may be convenient to use members for attaching the lock to the support, which members also serve in the assembly of the lock itself, either to hold parts'in position or to act as a bearing or otherwise to perform a function in the lock itself in addition to the function of fastening the lock to the support. Thus the member I1 serves to hold the lock in place and serves also as a bearing for the double grooved roller IB. This roller may be provided with suitable ball races on its sides to receive balls or other anti-friction members Il which contact with the pin I1 and so provide an anti-friction bearing for the roller.

The pin 2li serves to secure the lock to the support and acts as a positioning" member to position a portion of the locking mechanism which will be described below. A short rivet 2l may be positioned intermediate the pins I1 and 20 -and in this case is riveted directly tc the walls of the lock housing and does not extend appreciably beyond them. It serves also as a fastening and positioning member.`

Loosely positioned within the housing of the lock and above the pins 20 and 2i, and resting upon them, is a setter member 22. This member, adjacent one end, rests upon the pin 20 and at its opposite end is curved or rounded as at 23. The purpose of this shape is to avoid wear on the oord or cable and another shape might be adapted without departing from the spirit of the invention. Intermediate its ends the setter 22 is provided with a raised portion 24. Resting upon the member 22 and limited as to its lowermost position by the raised portion 24 is a composite locking member which comprises a short roller or shaft 25 upon which are loosely tted two rings or rollers 26, 28. The degree of looseness of nt is such thatone ring or roller may move ahead of the other or they may, of course, move together. This permits independent locking and compensates for differences in size of the cord or cable members which may be due to a 40 variety of causes, including uneven wear. I'hus in Figure 4 the parts are shown in the locking position and it will be noticed that one of the rollers or rings 2l is ahead of the other. Figure `8 shows a section of the same parts in the same 45 position and it will be noticed that the right hand member 26 has its upper surface above that of the left hand member 2B. This is made necessary because the cord section I2 isy thinner than the cord section Il. It is one of the purposes of 50 the present invention and of the construction just described to compensate for unevenness, in wear or size, and to permitin pendent locking of the separate cord sections. I the rings 28 were not independent, only the larger cord section II 55 would be locked because when that has been locked further movement of the roller in the locking direction is impossible and the member I2 would not be locked. The modiiled form shown in Figure 9 does not 60 include a "rail. or other similar member. A housing formed of side members 21, 21 `and a top member 28 encloses the locking mechanism, which is identical with that just described in connection with Figures 1 to 8, inclusive. The 65 housing is provided with feet -29 which may be secured by screws 20 or otherwise to a roof or other support 3|. Independently mounted rollers 32, l2 are provided to support, respectively, .the cord sections II and I2. Except for these 70 differences and for the fact that the members I1,

2l and 2|, act only as retaining and bearing members in the lock, the details of the lock construction and operation are the same as those described above. 75 As shown in Figures 10 and 1,2, a further modication appears in which the device is arranged for attachment to a side wall or side support. As Y the device the operating and'locking mechanisml is the same as that described above except that instead of the double grooved roller I8 a smooth roller 42 is provided. This roller is so made in order to permit free'side entrance and side removal of the cord or cable.

In Figure 11 a device identical with that in Figures 10 and 12 is shown except that it is adapted for locking a single cord and, therefore, is

narrower.

In the form shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12, the device isadapted for use with a cord or cable for any purpose. No blind or other similar or analogous device is shown but it is assumed that the lock is used with a single or double cord or cable which has one reach normally under tension and the other reach normally not under tension. The locking means is eil'ective to lock the reach under tension in a desired position and it may be unlocked at the will of the operator.

'Ihe use and operation of the invention are as follows:

Considering the parts in the position shown in Figure 5, they are unlocked. The setter member 22 has moved to the right until the projection or raised portion 24 contacts the roller I 8 which limits its movement to the right and prevents its falling from the assembly. The locking member 25 with the rollers or rings 28 lies in its lowermost position resting upon the setter 22 and against the raised portion 24.

Ii' with the parts in the position shown in Figure 5 it is desired to lock them, assuming, for example, that a blind with which' the lock is associated is to be raised, the blind is raised by pulling upon the cables II and I2 and they move downwardly. When the blind or other object supported by the cables has been moved to the desired position, the operator moves his hand so as to move the cable sections below the roller I8 to the left. They occupy this position in Figure 4 and it will be seen that they have beenmoved to the left from the position of Figure 5. When this movement occurs the cords bear against the curved or outer end 23 of the setter 22 and carry 4that member and the locking rollers or rings 26 to the lright so that these locking members are brought into contact with' the under sides of the cord sections Il and I2 and engage them frictionally. If the operator now permits the cords to run out slightly to the left, since they are in frietional engagement with the rings 26, these rings will be carried upwardly along the upper inclined portion of the setter member 22 andlvwill wedge and lock the rope or cord sections against the top housing member I6 and a very slight movement to the right is suilicient to effect a locking. 'Ihe parts are sh'own in the locked, position in Figure 4.

To effect an unlocking and to permit lowering of the blind or other object supported by the domata,y

movement of locking rings 2l, frees them from frictional engagement with the cord sections Il and I2 and 'permits them to kroll backward along the setter'until they again contact the raised part 24. When this has occurred the operator holding the cord in a position to the right of that shown in Figure 4, may permit the `cord to run out and so lower the blind. So long vas the cord is heldin such-a positionlthat'it does not move the setter to the left sufficiently to bring the rollers 26 in frictional engagement with the cord sections, no locking will occur. v

As above pointed out the locking members 20, although' carried on the same shaft member 2l,

are loose with respect to it and are separate' from each-other so that one may move farther from v the other. Thus one may move farther upwardly along the inclined surface of the setter 22 and-` both in Figures 4 and 8 in which the member 26,

which engages the rope section I 2, has moved farther upwardly than the member 26 which engages the rope Il. These figures indicate merely ,one typical condition in which for some reason or other cords or sections of the same cord are not of the same thickness. This may occur from uneven wear or from a variety of causes and the device ofthe present invention provides automatic means whereby eifective locking occurs independentlyfof this variation in size or shape of the cords.

The operation of the locking mechanism in the form shown in Figure 9 is the same as that just described. This form is shown to illustrate the fact that the present lock need not be associated with' a rail or any other part of a blind but can be used separately. In Figures l0, 11 and 12 the operation of the locking means is the same as that described. 'I'he form of these gures involves no essential association with pulleysv or other members.

The rings or locking members 26, as shown, 'are smooth and not knurled or otherwise roughened. Although my invention is not limited to the use of smooth rollers I am able to get an entirely satisfactory locking or latching effect with smooth' rollers and thus I avoid the wear and tear on cords which has heretofore occurred in connection with the knurled and roughened rollers which have been almost universally used. The setter member ls effective to move the smooth rollers into initial or incipient engaging contact with the cords, and-subsequent reverse movement of the cords effects the locking.

I claim: y

1,. In a fastener, a housing, a cord guiding part,

a loosely mounted locking member positioned within said housing, a setter member, adapted to be moved bodilyto carry the locking member into cord-engaging positiomand a cord portion extending through said housing, engaging said guide, said cord portionv moving said setter into position to move said locking member into position to engage said cord.

2. In a fastener, a housing, a cord guiding part, a loosely mounted rotary locking member positioned Within said housing, a setter member, adapted to be moved bodily to carry the locking member into cord-engaging position, and a cord,

portion extending through said housing, engaging said guide, said cord portion moving said setter into position to move said'locking member into position to engage said cord.

3. In a fastener, a housing. a cord guiding part. a loosely mounted locking member psitioned within saidhousing, asetter' member supporting said locking' member, adapted to be moved bodily to carry the locking member into cordengaging position. and a cord portion extending through said housing, engaging said guide, said cord portion moving said setter into position to move said locking member into position to engage said' cord.

4. In a fastener, a housing, a cord guiding part, a loosely mounted rotary'locking member positioned within said'housing, a setter member sup,- porting said locking member.- adapted to be moved bodily to carry the locking member intov cord-engaging position. and a plurality of cord portions extending through said housing, engaging said guide, said cord portions moving said setter into position to move said locking member into position to engage said cords.

5. In a fastener, a housing, a double grooved cord guiding roller, a loosely mounted rotary locking member positioned within said housing, a setter member supporting said locking member, adapted to be moved bodily to carry the locking member into cord-engaging position, and a plurality of cord portionsextending through said housing, engaging said grooved roller, said cord portions moving said setter into position to move said locking member into position to engage said cords.

6. A fastener for fastening a cord and the like,

slack reach of the cord, and a plurality of independent cord locking members, said members joined together for relative movement and associated with said setter.

7. A fastener for fastening a cord and the like, comprising a housing, a pulley for guiding said cord, a cord passing through said housing and having one reach normally slack and one reach normally under tension, and a locking member comprising a setter mounted to be moved by the slack reach of the cord, and a plurality of independent 'cord locking members, said members joined together for relative movement and associated with said setter, the setter mounted to. be moved by the slack reach of the cord to carry said locking members into cord engaging position.

8. A fastener for fastening a cord and the like, comprising a housing, a pulley for guiding said cord, a cord passing through said housing and having one reach normally slack and one reach normally under tension, and a locking member comprising a setter mounted to be moved by the slack reach of the cord, and a plurality of independent cord lockingY members, said members joined together for relative movement and associated with said setter, the setter adapted to carry said locking membersinto cord engaging position, movement of the cord thereafter automatically moving said locking members to lock each cord independently.

9. A fastener for fastening a cord and the like, comprising a housing, a pulley for guiding said cord, a cord passing through said housing and having one reach normally slack and one reach normally under tension, and a locking member comprising a setter mounted to be moved by the slack reach of the cord, and a plurality of rotary comprising a setter mounted to be moved by the independent cord locking members, said members joined together for relative movement and associated with said setter. v,

10. A fastener for fastening cords and the like, comprising a housing, a pulley for guiding said cords, cords passing through said housing and having one reach normally slack and one reach normally under tension, and a locking member comprising a setter mounted to be moved by the slack reach of the cords, and a plurality of rotary independent cord locking members, said members joined together for relative Amovement and associated with said setter, the setter adapted to carry said looking members into cord engaging position, movement of the cords thereafter automatically moving said locking members to lock each cord independently.

11. As a blind supporting and positioning means, a fastener, comprising movable means for locking a cord, and a means for initiating the movement of said locking means, said fastener comprising a plurality of relatively movable parts, means for securing the fastener to said support, said securing means serving also to position and fasten together the parts of said fastener. v y

12. As a blind supporting and positioning means, a fastener, comprising movable means for locking a plurality of cords of diierent sizes,

and a single means for initiating the movement of said locking means, said fastener comprising a plurality of"relatively`movable parts, means for securing the fastener to said support,said securing means serving also to position and fasten together the parts of said fastener.

13. As a blind supporting and positioning means, a fastener, comprising independent movable means for locking a plurality of cords of different sizes', and a single means for initiating the movement of said locking means, said fastener comprising a plurality of relatively movable parts, means for securing the fastener to said support, said securing means serving also to fastener.

14. As a blind supporting and positioning means, a fastener, comprising independent movable means for locking a plurality of cords of different sizes, and a single means for initiating the movement of said locking means, said fastener comprising a plurality of relatively movable parts, means for securing the fastener to said support, said securing means serving also to position and fasten together the parts of said fastener, and to furnish bearings for said movable parts.

HENRY J. MACKIN.

position and fasten together the parts of said u 

